Alesia runs riot against Virani

Seconds before the buzzer calls for Round 4 to begin, our two fighters are thinking about what’s ahead.

Alesia thinks: “Yeah. No more messing around. Philly shell. No nonsense. Defense first, counterattacks second. Keep it simple. Well, for my style anyway. I’ll get the job done.”

Virani thinks: “Okay, slow and steady. Pressure her, but don’t get stupid. And when there are openings, make her feel them.”

The ring timer makes the expected sound. Alesia and Virani meet in the middle of the ring, tap gloves and get going. The Bavarian concedes a couple of feet to the Canadian, but nothing more. She works from a shorter distance, moving her upper body unpredictably. Every time a pink glove moves, she keeps her head safe from potential collisions. As cute as those gloves are, the pain they bring is too inconvenient.

Virani thinks: “Um, Alesia usually stays at a distance. This is a new wrinkle. Just makes it so she’s in my punching range for longer though.”

The first clear attack of the round comes from the Cobra. A right cross thrown after faking the jab. The Diva takes half a step to the left, leans outside and pulls her shoulders back as the glove comes in. It’s a miss.

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 17-1
I’m not here.
Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 17-2
Alesia thinks: “That’s how I fight. There’s a clear opening for the right hand now.”

Ally immediately throws a right cross, but Virani has the presence of mind to lean forward to the left while finishing her punching motion. The dark gray glove comes very close to finding the side of her face, but it slices the air.

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 18
Virani thinks: “Yeah that was the most obvious punch in history. Sorry, Ally.”

The Diva in charge

The early action gives Alesia a solid confidence boost. The fish has been put back into the water, and it wants to swim. The German champion stays nearby – keep your friends close, as they say – and sticks to her philly shell. Ally lets Virani’s movement direct the flow of the match.

The blonde throws a jab, making her counterpart raise her right hand and tap it. Virani follows up with a threatening left hook but Alesia leans forward to the left. She slips under the leather and lowers her right arm to throw a hook to the body. It licks Virani’s ribs and plows its way through part of her abdomen.

The Canadian pushes air out to minimise the pain, but a grunt comes out as well.

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 19-1
Regina thinks: “She’s in motion. Unstoppable when she flips that switch on.”

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 19-2

The Diva changes the pace, charging forward and throwing herself at Virani. She presses her upper body against the Indian-Canadian’s, with clean, legal contact. Thrown off, the Cobra takes a few emergency steps back and finds herself close to the ropes.

As Ally comes in from a very low stance, Virani throws a dangerous right cross with textbook technique, aiming low to try and smack the German’s head. The Queen of Uppercuts leans slightly to the right to avoid it and unleashes a stiff straight left. It finds Virani’s cheek and makes her head spin to the left.

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 20-1
Virani thinks: “Timing, power placement, that one had it all. Talk about getting paffed.”

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 20-2

Regina: “THAT’S IT!”

Feeling the pain, Virani escapes to the left and finds safety in the middle of the ring.

Virani thinks: “Okay, reset. Alesia is landing the best leather now. Time to get back to what worked for me.”

The Big One

For the first time in the match, Alesia feels confident enough to take control and press. She stalks her friend and thinks of the next move to make. She throws a few straight shots seize the initiative and keep the Canadian busy blocking.

A few seconds later, the Diva slows down, lowers her stance and drops her right hand. Eager to beat her opponent to the punch and score under pressure, Virani sees the opening and unloads a strong left hook. The German champ leans down to the right and comes back up with a swift uppercut on the tip of the chin. Pish!

Regina thinks: “This is getting rough.”

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 21-1
Alesia thinks: “That was a pretty good uppercut, and I think I know this punch well.”

Alesia Schumann Virani MacVicar spar 21-2

Virani is hurting, but she shakes it off and puts distance between herself and her friendly foe. A couple of seconds later, the ring timer buzzes to end the round.

Virani exhales. Alesia catches her breath and comes closer to tap gloves.

Alesia: “You took the uppercut better this time.”

Virani smirks: “I don’t remember the last time.”

They laugh it off and go back to their corners.

Virani thinks: “Whoa. She’s really going for it now. I have to step it up.”

The coach goes to her first, giving her a few sips of water before talking.

Regina: “Tough round, Cobra. You have to level up fast, because Alesia found her rhythm. Fight at nearly full strength, just as she does. Mix things up. Change directions. Never make the same move twice. Move your upper body constantly. As soon as you’re done punching, start moving again. You can’t afford to be static or predictable. I think you can pull it off.”

Virani: “I can. I will.”

The women’s boxing legend gives her a friendly tap on the shoulder and goes to Alesia.

Regina: “Impressive. That’s what I wanted to see. Working from all sorts of angles and using that philly shell to be creative. That’s how we fight. Just keep it going, and expect her to come out stronger in the next round.”

Alesia nods before receiving water.

Alesia Schumann
Alesia Schumann
Super Lightweight champion of the world, German champion and one of the pound for pound best. The Diva is known for her tactical strength and durability.